Device for sharpening scissors or the like



Dec. 17, 1935. c. E AN 2,024,245

DEVICE FOR SHARPENING SCISSORS OR THE LIKE Filed June 14, 1934 I.IIIIIIIIIIIII 1 I,

INVENTOR Char/es Newman HIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT. OFFICE DEVICE FOR SHARRENING SCIS'SDRS OR THE LIKECharles Newman, Elizabeth, N. .1.

Application June 14, 1934, Seri'al No. 730,630

3 Claims.

for sharpening scissors-or shears, thedevice being such that it may beconveniently kept in a sewing "basket or other handy place.

A further object is to provide a device of this nature which is ofextreme simplicity and which requires no skill for its practicaloperation such as is required with the use of grinding wheels,sharpening stones, etc.

A further object is to provideascissors or shear sharpening device withmeans whereby it may be readily and quicklypositioned on a tableor-bench.

A still further object is to provide a device of the foregoing'naturewhich is extremely econom ical to manufacture and highly efiicient inuse for sharpening the entire blade of scissors or shears of any size.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specificationproceeds. Referring to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the scissors sharpening device inposition on the edge of a table or bench;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 2-2and 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective sectional view of analternate construction.

The device is designed and constructed for the sharpening of scissors orshears. Applicant is aware of the existence of a number of devices inthe nature of combination knife and scissor sharpeners. Such devices areusually impractical due to their attempting to sharpen both knives andscissors which have so few characteristics in common. Applicant is alsoaware of a number of sharpening devices in which the sharpener is heldin one hand and engages a blade of the scissors held in the other hand.These devices likewise have not proved efficient in operation.

Referring again to said drawing the reference numeral 5 designates asubstantially flat plate having a flange 6 at its forward edge, theflange 6 acting as a table end stop.

A sharpening element 1 is positioned on the plate 5, the forward edge ofsaid sharpening element being placed close to or in line with theforward edge or flange 6 of the plate 5. The sharpening elementcomprises a file the teeth of which may be either single or cross cutpattern. In practice a bar having fine teeth of a crosscu't pattern hasbeen found quite effective.

The sharpening element 1 is held to the plate and lateral displacementthereof is prevented by a pair of clamping'ears fi. The clamping ears8 5are preferably struck up from the body of .the plate "and extend'overthe parallel side edges of the file or sharpening element.

A tongue 9 is struck up from the body of the ..plate and butts upagainst the rear edge of the 10 sharpening element :as particularlyillustrated in Fig. 2. It will thus be apparent that the file orsharpening element is firmly secured to the plate in an effective andeconomical manner.

In use the blades of the scissors to be sharpl5 enedare spread wideopen. The tip portion of one of the blades is placed on the sharpeningelement and the blade is tilted slightly so as to bring the beveledcutting edge in conformity to the sharpening surface, the naturaltendency of 20 the blade being to ride on the bevel side of the edge inthe sharpening operation. The blade is then pressed against the surfaceof the sharpening element and pushed forward or away from the user.During this operation the tongue 9 pre- 25 vents the sharpening elementfrom moving in relation to the plate 5 and the flange or table end stop6 engaging the edge of the table II] prevents any movement of the plate.This operation is repeated with each blade as many times as is 30necessary. Ordinarily three or four strokes of each blade are sufficientto sharpen even a very dull pair of scissors.

By positioning the forward end of the sharpening element close to or inline with the flange 6 the entire blade right up to the hinge may besharpened.

Any or substantially all parts of surface of the sharpening surfaces maybe utilized. This is important as in a number of known devices, guides,0 flanges or channels are used to position the blade to be sharpened.With these constructions only a very limited area of the sharpeningsurface is used and the file teeth are soon worn away at that particularlocation.

Screw holes ll may be provided to hold the sharpening device to a tableor bench if desired. When screwed down the flange 6 might be omitted andin sharpening a blade both the forward and backward stroke could betaken advantage of.

The plate is further provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with cut-out oraperture l2. This opening 12 conforms to the shape of the flnger orthumb and aids in holding the device in position on the table while inoperation. The opening I2 55 is desired, particularly in sharpening apair of small scissors, as both the forward and backward strokes maythen be utilized in the sharpening operation. The weight and pressure ofthe hand bearing down on the shears holds the device down on the tableand the forward sharpening stroke of the shears against the cuttingteeth of the file, the cutting teeth of the file substantially facingtoward the flange 6, creates apull on the table end stop 6 and tightensit against the edge of the table. In sharpening a large pair of shearsit may be desirable to use two hands on the shears in order to securesufiicient downward pressure" and insure good results.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 4 a bead l3 may be stamped up from theunder side of the plate and surrounding the aperture l2. This wouldgreatly aid in preventing slippage of the. device,

engage the edge of a table, a sharpening element having its forward edgesubstantially in line with said flange, clamping ears for holding saidsharpening element to said plate and preventing lateral displacementthereof, a tongue engaging the rear edge of said sharpening element toprevent rearward displacement thereof, and an aperture in said plateadjacent said sharpening element, to conformably engage the thumb orfinger and thereby prevent forward displacement of the device.

2. A device for sharpening scissors or the like, said device having incombination a plate, a flange on the forward edge of said plate adaptedto engage the edge of a table, a sharpening element having its forwardedge substantially in line with said fiange, clamping ears for holdingsaid sharpening element to said plate and preventing lateraldisplacement thereof, a tongue engaging .the rear'edge of saidsharpening element to prevent rearward displacement thereof, an aperturein said plate adjacent said sharpening element, and a raised beadsurrounding said aperture.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a scissors sharpening device formedentirely from a sheet of fiat material, the forward end portion beingbent down angularly thereby forming a flange, said flange to act as atable end stop for said device, and the balance of said sheet forming arearwardly extending portion, a file positioned horizontally andflatwise on the surface of said rearwardly extending portion, the frontedge of said file transversely adjoining said flange, the device beingadapted to fit the edge of a table and the table end stop acting toprevent rearwarddisplaceinent of the device in the forward sharpeningoperation, ears being formed on the surface of said rearwardly extendingportion adjoining the sides of said file to prevent lateral displacementthereof, said ears being bent over the side edges of said file forpermanently attaching said file to said rearwardly extending portion,and a tongue formed on the surface of said rearwardly extending portionfor abutting the rear end of said file below its sharpening surface andthereby prevent rearward displacement of said file.

CHARLES NEWMAN.

